MAY NOTES 



spicuous though it is, frequently is overlooked by 

 the passer-by. Undoubtedly this is due in part to 

 the reddish coloring of the narrow, waving sepals 

 and petals which in comparison to the great in- 

 flated lip are inconspicuous parts of the flower. 

 Perhaps this is an example of the protective mimi- Prot 

 cry which may exist as well in the vegetable as in 

 the animal world. The plant stands sorely in 

 need of some such device to shield it from the 

 attack of the omnipresent flower-picker. More 

 than once I have held my breath and looked the 

 other way while passing with a companion one 

 or more of these flowers. That they are appre- 

 ciated very generally and destructively is proved Bane of 

 by the fact that they are gathered in quantities, P°P ulartt J' 

 tied up in close, uncomfortable bunches, and sold 

 from the carts that fill the open market-place 

 in Albany on early May mornings. Occasionally 

 the flower loses its color and becomes either a 

 bleached or, very rarely, a pure white. Once only 

 I have found it entirely white with yellow-green 

 sepals and petals, and so tall stemmed and large- 

 leaved as to look like quite a different species. 



The two yellow lady's-slippers, the larger and YeUow 

 the smaller species, are usually a few days later f ers 

 than the Indian moccasin. Gray assigns them to 

 " bogs and low woods," but I happen to have 

 found them only on rather dry, wooded hill-sides. 



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